neon pepper arts

RULES OF THE SHRINE: 

 - The dog's name is Tama (ຕາຫມາ) 

 - The shrine must be made of objects no longer desired 

 - Please take of shoes before entry  

 - Prayers may or may not be answered 

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The Watma Buddhist Shrine is a playful reflection of my childhood experiences of finding a place to belong as a second-generation Laotian-American. In this multimedia work, a dog named Tama invites viewers to explore the world contained within a cardboard shrine. As Tama makes their journey through the window of the shrine, they seek for a place to belong to in a world that is seen to be constantly in flux.

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The original construct eventually became part of the larger Eternal Belonging installation (2020).